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Not an Ending But a Change

Change is one of those inevitable things in life. Today brings yet another one of those inevitable changes, as I am officially moving on from my current role with ActiveRain.

I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the ActiveRain team, and all of the members, to build ActiveRain to what it is today. Right now, I have an opportunity in front of me that is too good to pass up. I will be founding a new, yet-to-be-announced social networking/media startup outside of the real estate industry. Similar to with ActiveRain and real estate, I see a very large market that has some unique problems in need of a solution and and it's shocking no one has previously put all of the pieces together. You will be hearing much more about it soon enough, and I look forward to being able to build something as passionately as I have been able to help build with ActiveRain.

While I will be officially moving on from my current role with ActiveRain, I will continue to have an active role with the company, working on various projects. You will still see me around as I plan on attending as many of the industry events and gatherings as I can going forward. I have also been asked to remain on the Board of ActiveRain and will continue in that capacity. I look forward to making continuing contributions to ActiveRain as it continues its exciting progress – not just because I'm one of the company’s largest shareholders but because I love the community.

-Matt

Posted by Matt Heaton on 09/13/2008 01:01 AM

Comments (65)

Announcement in the ActiveRain Channel

65 Comments on Not an Ending But a Change

SEP

2008

Matt,

I don't where to start. Not only has it been an absolute priviledge and joy (well a joy most of the time, haha) to work with you, it has been even better getting to know you as a friend. As you said to Jerry and me when you told us, it is certainly bitter sweet. While I know that Jorgen is more than capabale of handling the issues that I have a knack for delivering, it just won't be the same as seeing you scribble the issue down on your notepad in that chicken scratch you call handwriting.

Because I have inside knowledge on your next project, I am very excited for you!! You are right, it's an opportunity that is too good to pass up. I know that with you at the helm it will be an overwhelming success. (I can pretty much guarantee that I will be using it in the future).

And as long as you will be attending industry events I know that I'll have plenty of occassions to see you dance on the pool table! haha!

Good luck my friend!

(and of course, I'll see you next week :-) )

Matt - I know this must be hard for you in some respects, I know how much your heart is into this community. You have been so instrumental in making the dreams here become reality.

Though I have only had the chance to work with you over the past five months, I feel like I've known you so much longer. You have been the transmission of AR IMHO.

I'm kind of bummed that you won't have a more hands on role, but I'm also very excited about your new endeavor. (I won't steal your thunder) After we spoke last on the phone, it was clear that you have a sincere passion for this new project, just as you have always had here in the rain.

So this is not goodbye by any means, it's more a congratulations on finding more dreams and making them realities. Good luck my friend, we'll bug you no less in the future, and speaking of bugs....what the heck is a trilobite and I want to go with you next time you search for them....I think :-)

We love ya man!!

Matt: Everyone equates ActiveRain's amazing growth & success with the name, Matt Heaton. In all of my experiences, I have rarely encountered someone who has demonstrated as much commitment and tireless effort towards a cause than you. We will all pay our ongoing gratitude to you by working to make ActiveRain all that you hoped and envisioned it would become. I know you will excel wherever life takes you. See you next week in Las Vegas!

Matt,

Although your departure is a sad event for ActiveRain as a company and as a community, I can't help but to congratulate you on a personal level, for pursuing your entrepreneurial passions and fulfilling your greater purpose.

I have no doubt that your next venture will be extremely successful and your ideas and abilities will bless many people in another industry, just as they have here on the Rain.

My biggest disappointment is that I don't have enough money to qualify as an investor in this new business!

Lastly I wanted to thank you for taking the leap 5 years ago and accepting my offer to start ActiveRain with me. There have been some extremely lean times over the years, but you persevered through all of them at great personal sacrifice to see ActiveRain through until it was prosperous. Your hard work and dedication will not be forgotten.

Change can be a great thing. I am sure this departure is bittersweet. While it will be sad to see you out of the day to day operations of Active Rain, I am SO excited for you and what you are working on.

I am lucky to have a glimpse of your next project and I know it is going to be another HUGE, smashing success- just like you have done with Active Rain.

Congratulations Matt! I don't need to wish you good luck, I already know how successful you will be!

Congratulations Matt! I'd love to hear about your new venture and see if there are some ways we might work together, either with Eastside Business and/or Eastside Entrepreneurs.

Joe
Promote@EastsideBusinessJournal.com

Matt, although I am sure you don't know who I am, I am very thankful for you, and everyone else who has had a part in building this community. I wish you all the best, and would love to hear about your new business venture.

Matt, I have only known you for a short time but I can honestly say I wish you nothing but the best in your future ventures! Good luck!

Well, I have had the extreme pleasure to meet you and Lydia this past January and no matter where you go and what you do...just remember to call me anytime you come this way again! Congratulations on your 'change' and if I know you ...I know it's going to be a doozy! See you around and good luck!

Dang!! I had no idea my ::Clink:: with you was ... well, for THIS! Keep tweeting with us, OK? You're amazing, I predict more wonderful things in your future! :)

Happy Trails, Matt. From the glowing tributes of your coworkers above, it is evident the you will find success in your new venture. See you around the networks -- can't wait to see your new one!

Yay!!! The announcement is official :) !!!! Matt, you will definitely be missed, but what great things are ahead! I'm glad that you will remain a part of AR - especially the part about coming to the events :) !! It was such a pleasure and so much fun getting to know you in San Francisco !!!! Can't wait to many more happy times :) :cheers:

Hey Matt - Congrats on the transition & looking forward to checking out your next endeavour. I would have bought you a drink in Vegas to celebrate, but since I have to miss out on all the fun, you'll have to take a raincheck.

That's a suprise. I guess. we'll be watching you.... Good luck.

Matt, how exciting. I wish you all the best and thank you for your very important role here. It has been nice to meet you at a couple of the AR parties gatherings and I hope to see you in Vegas next week! Can't wait to hear more about your new gig.

Matt... All the fun is in building the systems and once they are up and running you need to move on to keep yourself challenged.... Enjoy!

Matt Best Wishes....I can't wait to see the results of your next venture.!

With tremendous vision and madddd tech skills....you'll change the industry you describe as being disconnected and missing the links you've provided us. Whatever "it" is....somehow you've been perfectly positioned and primed with the role you took on at Active Rain to do this next thing.

Don't forget your friends and where you came from....

Oh dear! Something tells me there will be yet another social network for us to get atticted to! I wish you the best!

Congratulations on your new endeavor- I hope it takes off like Active Rain has.

Thanks for the responses, hopefully it won't be too long before I can start sharing more publically about the really cool project is that I'll be working on. Nick, Derek, Rich, Ginger: See ya in Vegas next week...

Cheers everybody...

Patricia: Yeah I think it will get more than a few people addicted. While it's not real estate or really business related, there is a lot of crossover between the people involved in real estate and the new venture...

which way did he go.... which way did he go..... Good luck, but I know you will be close by. I know we will be hearing great things from you.

Congrats on the new venture, Matt! Does this mean no more new feature pushes in the middle of the night? I'll see you at REBW next week, and hope you can make the pre-conference meetup at Gordon Biersch on Thursday night.

Matt- What a bummer to see you leave. It feels like part of the family is going off to college or something. While you are excited for where the future takes them, you are bummed because they have moved on to something new! Best of luck man!

John: Luckily for me I don't think I'll have to deal with that for a while. I get the fun of finalizing business plans, finishing my beta and raising capital now. Yeah, I'll be at Gordon Biersch on Thur, see ya there...

Wow! Sorry I missed you on your swing thru the east bay but we'll catch up in Vegas next week.

Good for you!

But, wow for us.

Matt -- thank you for all that you have done to make this an incredible experience for so many. I am glad to hear that you will remain involved .. good luck to you in your new endeavor.

That sounds exciting Matt! I wish nothing but the best in your new endeavor.

Matt... I'm sure it will be cool. I hope you can make it down to Orlando... We can do an A|R party at Animal Kingdom. Jon is buying.

Matt, I am sure you will be missed! I appreciate all you have done for us. I hope your next venture is a huge success! I'm sure it will be. Keep us all posted, and best of luck to you! Go get 'em! Now, you are stressing me out. I almost have Twitter figured out...now, I'll have to learn something new??? HELP! lol. Best of luck Matt!

Matt, congratulations on your new venture. We WILL miss you, but don't begrudge you a new opportunity.

Matt, I am speechless, however I would like to wish you the very best in your new endeavor. Please come and visit us as often as you can.

Matt - THANK YOU for all you've done. I'm so glad I had the chance to meet you a few times, and I'll be watching your new ventures. We'll all miss you, but wish you the best in your new venture. Hope Lydia's ready for another wild ride! Glad you're staying involved to some extent, and look forward to our next meeting.

Matt,

Thank you for what you have given us, I hope you have fun at your new place.

Take care!

RJH

Matt ... Best of Luck on your new adventure!

Congratulations on your new endeavor(Whatever it may be!) We have enjoyed all your hard work in making Activerain a success.

Matt, so glad that our paths crossed briefly in Chicago when you and Lydia flew in for the Active Rain B-Day Celebration. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and have appreciated your leadership on the network. Best Wishes to you as you move on to new horizons.

Matt, Damn man!!! I am so excited for you and I don't even know what you are doing. But I do know yo will be successful at it. I can't wait to hear what's up.

Matt, Good luck...Can't wait to see what you do next! I mean come on... don't we all need another social networking site?

Seriously though. Best of Luck & Success!

Matt, I'm a mother hen...........I will miss you like crazy as you are one of the first ones I think of here. But, I know you will be successful in whatever you pursue. Glad you will be around at events and on Twitter. Glad this is out in the open, I have had to bite my tongue so many times. (((hugs))).

Matt, thank you and best wishes. Change is always happening and in this case will offer you new opportunities and more new friends.

Wow, I thought you would be here forever, connected at the hip to Jon. :) Congratulations and the best to you on your new venture.

SEP

2008

Best wishes for you, Matt. You did something wonderful with Active Rain, will look forward to hearing about your new endeavor - put me on your email announcement list!

Matt, I wish you much success in your new endeavor. I look forward to hear all about it when the time is right.

Matt: I wish you the best of the best in your new adventure. I hope the folks you will be working with will come to value you and all you have done as much as all of us at Active Rain do. Congratulations... and... take care...

Matt - I never got to really know you, but have heard so much about you.

The Active Rain Network has to be one of the best networks I have ever been a part of. And to think you were such a big part of building it, you should feel very proud.

I really hate to see you leave without getting to know you through The Rain, but I am sure where ever you may be going that you will be a asset.

Take care, Robert Swetz

wow huge for you! I'm excited about the changes and looking forward to learning what's next!

Matt, I wish you all the best in your new venture and am certain that it will be a success. It's been good knowing you and I'm glad that we've had the chance to meet a couple of times. I'm looking forward to hearing all about your new endeavour. It doesn't involve trilobites, does it?

Matt - Congratulations on the the new opportunity. It is really exciting to get involve in a new project and in an area that has not yet been explored. Glad to hear you will still be involved with AR. Thanks also for being instrumental in making AR what it is, the real estate and associated industries really benefited from this platform.

MATT,

Best of luck to you in the future. You did a tremendous job with Active Rain. While i'm not sure if this is a good sign for Active Rain, this network will continue even if it never competes directly with the larger social networks out there. This is by far the most interesting community, resource wise, we have ever joined and you were a vital part of that.

Keep up the good fight and stop by once in a while!

Good luck with your new endeavour, Matt....I'm sure it too will be a roaring success!

Matt, goodluck with your new challenge.. what you have brought to AR is immeasureable.. I know you will keep us on your horizon and build a new network that is just as awesome. Blessings to you.

Oh Matt, CONGRATULATIONS! I am saddened that your role is going to be downgraded but excited about all the new possibilities in your future!!

Good thing about the "new' adventure is you have a hundred thousand 'friends in the RAIN' that will help you promote it. Unless of course it is in the trilobite society then you are on your own- I have no contacts to share. In the spirit of 'going away' mugs here is what I designed for you- text

mug Take Care Cheryl(A t-shirt would have been better)willis

Matt- I have a plaque that says we can never become what we are meant to be if we stay what we are.......you have built a great system here, and it sounds like the next adventure in your life will be another challenge for you. Another Opportunity......Congratulations, and thanks for everything you have done in co-founding AR.

Yep a new Twitter name might be appropriate LOL :)

Matt, This new venture has to be a success with you at the helm!

With a great deal of appreciation for what you have accomplished here on AR and a great deal of admiration for taking your next chance.

Just want to say thanks for what you have done here with AR, and best wishes for the next chapter in your life adventure.

Matt: Though your titles included CEO, VP of Product Development, Executive VP, and Co-Founder (wow!), I'll always think of you as the humble, talented developer and master craftsman who was constantly working for the betterment of ActiveRain. You showed me the importance of judiciously placed SQL and never lost the `svn blame` game. You provided free taxi service and a gratis room at the Hotel Heaton when I visited Washington. Though we only knew each other for a brief few months, you'll be missed.

A life without change is a life that's incredibly boring. With your technical and business savvy, I have no doubt that you'll land feet first and take off running.

As you're transitioning from your current role, know that you've left an indelible mark on ActiveRain. Your sound methodologies and philosophies will continue to influence product development long after you've left for greener pastures.

So ends one chapter of your life; you've done great things, and I know you'll continue to succeed. Good luck!

Change is always a bit bittersweet. You have done well at A/R and we know you will do well at the new venture. All the very best to you in the future. Look forward to reading about your new venture.

Change happens to everyone, just roll with it!

Thanks

Tom Davis

World Class DE Realtor

SEP

2008

Matt.... wow.... sorry that I am late to the party... I missed this one. But it was good to talk to you throughout the years and to have met you back in January. Best of luck with this new venture. And I also look forward to what the new networking platform that you plan on starting. thanks for all that you have done.

Jeff Belonger

SEP

2008

Matt, Congratulations and best of luck on your new venture!! I'm sure that it will be fun and we'll be looking forward to hearing more about it in the future. I know that something like this is usually bittersweet on many levels, but on the other hand you have to be very excited. Congrats again!

Congratulations! Great success is ahead of you! Can't wait to hear more!

Terrible to hear it but I wish you luck...I thankfully got to meet you and hope to see you again really soon....maybe in Orlando in Nov.

SEP

2008

Matt - I just learned of this a few days ago, was told that you did post about it and here I am. Thank you so much for your integral part of all this, I seriously couldn't put my appreciation into words. As far as your new venture, your new challenge, it sounds intriguing and I'm sure will be met with the same excitement and garner the same popularity and importance as AR. I'll be on the look-out for it. Again, thank you. Have a great weekend.

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